The International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) has sentenced five Razakars, including Dr Khandkar Golam Sabbir Ahmad of Trishal upazila of Mymensingh, to life-term imprisonment for the crimes against humanity during the Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971.
The three-member tribunal, headed by its Chairman Justice Shahinur Islam, pronounced the 177-page verdict on Monday (February 20). The other two members of the tribunal are Justice Abu Ahmed Jamadar and Justice KM Hafizul Alam.
The tribunal pronounced the verdict in presence of three convicts. They are- Md Harmuz Ali, 73, Md Abdus Sattar, 61, and Khandaker Golam Rabbani, 63.
Two other convicts-- Khandaker Golam Sabbir Ahmad, 69, and Md Fakhruzzaman, 61, are still absconding and faced the trial in absentia.
Prosecutors Muklesur Rahman Badal, Sultan Mahmud Simon, Sabina Yeasmin Khan, Rezia Sultana Chaman and Tapas Kanti Baul appeared for the prosecution in the tribunal.
On the other hand, Advocate Mizanul Islam and Advocate Gazi MH Tamim were present on the defendant’s side.
On November 23 in 2022, after the hearing of the state and the accused in this case, the verdict of the case was kept pending.
Later on February 16 this year, the tribunal set Monday to pronounce the verdict in the case.
Prosecutor Sultan Mahmud Simon said that there were eight accused in this case. Six of them were arrested. Three died. They are former Jatiya Party MP MA Abdul Hannan, his son Md Rafiq Sajjad, 62, and Mizanur Rahman Mintu, 63.
On May 19 in 2015, Rahima Khatun, the wife of martyred freedom fighter Abdur Rahman of Trishal in Mymensingh, filed a case against eight people accusing them of arson, looting, abduction, detention, torture and murder during the Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971.
In the same complaint, another case was filed against 25 people, including Jatiya Party leader and former MP from Mymensingh-7 (Trishal) constituency Abdul Hannan, for looting, rape, torture and arson on charges of crimes against humanity.
According to the case, on April 21 in 1971, during the liberation war, Abdul Hannan was the convener of the Mymensingh city branch of the then Peace Committee. Under his orders, the Pakistani invasion forces, including Razakar commanders Anisur Rahman Manik, Shamsul Haque Bachchu and their henchmen, committed mass murders, looted property worth crores, raped, tortured and set fire to Kalir Bazar and Kanihari areas of Trishal.
On October 10 in 2015, Abdul Hannan was arrested from his house in Gulshan of the capital city after the tribunal issued a warrant against the accused. On the same day, his son Rafiq Sajjad was arrested from an office in that area.
On July 11 in 2016, the ICT’s investigative agency submitted a full investigation report against the accused to the prosecution branch of the tribunal.
Six charges of arson, looting, abduction, detention, torture, murder and disappearance of dead bodies were brought against them.
On November 4 in 2018, the tribunal framed charges against eight people, including Jatiya Party MP Abdul Hannan and his son. Among them, 13 people including the investigation officer of the case testified.
During the Liberation War, the accused persons were members of the infamous Al-Badr and Razakar force.
